A short in your electricity takes place when an accidental path is created in a circuit, generating a connection where there should not be one. A key indication of this type of short is when fuses are repeatedly blown out or the circuit breaker trips repeatedly. It regularly causes a loud popping sound when the circuit is activated.

When a short takes place, it needs to have an electrical repair right away in Myrtle Beach, SC or wherever you live because this issue can melt insulation on electrical wiring, damage the circuit itself, or even cause a fire to start. In this blog post, I will share with you what you need to do if you discover an electrical short.

  1. Analyze Your Appliances: The first thing that you need to do is to check the appliances that you were using at the time when the short took place. Disconnect the appliances that are connected to the circuit and then reset the breaker or change the fuse. The next step is for you to energize the circuit. If the breaker or fuse does not blow, then an appliance is more than likely the cause the short. Then you need to see which appliance is the cause of the short. Then the appliance needs to be fixed or replaced to correct the problem. If the circuit trips out or the fuse blows again when the appliances are not plugged in, then the wiring has a short in it or the receptacle does and they are definitely in need of an electrician. Part of inspecting the appliances is to look at their cords. If you discover that any of your appliance cords have been damaged or the plastic insulation has melted, there is a good that the electrical short that is need of an electrician in Myrtle Beach, SC or wherever you may be, then there is a good chance the short is in the appliance itself. If you believe that it is your appliances, switch the circuit breaker back on after you have unplugged the appliances. It is more than likely that the appliance was the cause of the problem.
  2. “Wipe Out” the Wires:  After you check out all of your appliances to see if there is a short in them, then you need to turn off the circuit that is tripping or take the fuse out of the circuit that is having the issues. Then you need to take the volt/ohm meter and switch it to volts. Place the metal probe ends into the receptacle that is having the issue and test for voltage to ensure that the circuit is off. The voltage level needs to be zero. Separate the receptacle from the box, and take the wires out of the receptacle with a pair of pliers and a screwdriver. This is an essential part of the electrical repair process.
  3. Check the Wires: The next step is for you to switch the volt/ohm meter to ohms this time. No matter whether you live in Myrtle Beach, SC or anywhere else, you need to check the wires for a short by placing each lead to one of the bare ends of the insulated wires; connect one lead of the meter to the black wire and the other to the white wire. If the meter shows infinite ohms, or O.L., that means that the receptacle is in bad condition and it needs to be replaced. If the meter shows continuity, the short could be in the wire or the circuit breaker.
  4. Do Away with the Breaker Wires: After you check the wires, you need to turn off the main breaker that controls the power and take the cover off of the box. Take the wires out of the problem breaker or fuse connection and the white wire that goes along with it. The white wire will be in the same insulated jacket as the black wire.
  5. Check the Breaker: The next step in seeing if you are in need of an electrical repair due to an electrical short is to check the breaker. You need to test the breaker and breaker wire for a short. If the volt/ohm meter shows infinite ohms or O.L., then you need to get a new breaker. If the breaker wire shows zero ohms or a resistance reading, then there is a short in the wire and it is need of a changing.
  6. Replace the Circuit Wiring Problem: This is the step that may require you to have a professional electrician come to your home and do an electrical repair. Do not try to do this unless you are very sure of knowledge and skill about electricity. During this repair, the circuits will need to be turned off and then the outlets and switch boxes will need to be opened up to so that the wires and wire connections can be looked at and then doing an electrical repair, if it is needed.

If you cannot find any issues with your appliances that are plugged in or your fixture wiring connections, then an electrical repair needs to be done because the issue is more than likely hiding in the wire that in on the inside of your wall somewhere. Finding the solution to the problem in your home in Myrtle Beach, SC or wherever you may reside then you need to call a licensed electrician to do an electrical repair in your home. You should not reactivate the circuit until the problem has been determined and a repair has been performed in your Myrtle Beach, SC home or wherever your home is located. If you do reactivate the circuit prior the electrical repair being done, then you run the risk of a fire and shock happening in your home to you and your family. If you smell smoke or there any signs of charred plastic in your home, that is a sign of a serious electrical short and you need a Mister Sparky® of Myrtle Beach electrical repair immediately.